Grants

University of California, Los Angeles

For screenwriting and production of science and technology films by top film students

Amount
$309,600

City
Los Angeles, CA

Investigator
Etana Jacobson

Year
2012

Program
Public Understanding

Sub-program
Film

This grant provides three years of support to the University of California, Los Angeles' School of Theater, Film and Television, one of the Foundation's six film school partners, for its continuing efforts to encourage the next generation of filmmakers to incorporate scientific themes and characters in their work, and to challenge stereotypes about scientists and engineers through film. UCLA sponsors a number of initiatives to expose film students to the narrative possibilities of exploring science and technology in their work. Grant funds support an annual, full-day colloquium brings together top UCLA science faculty from a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds to lecture on interesting new developments in science and technology; two annual $10,000 screenwriting prizes to be awarded to the best science-themed scripts, an annual $30,000 directing fellowship awarded to the best science themed film project; and funds providing science mentors to ensure the accuracy of science-themed film content and to mentor students as they research and write scripts. The program promises to continue to build on the UCLA program's success in building a cadre of talented young filmmakers eager to explore scientific themes and characters in their careers.